THE GLORIOUS EXPECTATION OF THE ECCLESIA

It seems that according to the Greek Scriptures, there is to be a fixed and pre-ordained number in the Ecclesia, but not revealed.

At the end of Christ's ministry on earth, after His resurrection, there was the miraculous draught of fishes. Through Peter's obedience to Christ's word, 153 large fish were caught and the net was not damaged. John 20: 3-13.

Why the specific number?

In the studies of 'Number in Scripture' it is a picture of the completed Ecclesia. 153 is 17 x 9. Seventeen stands for the Perfection of Spiritual Order, and nine for Finality, also in this number 153, we see that all judgement (9) is exhausted for the Ecclesia, in the Person of their Surety, the Lord Jesus Christ. (17). Romans 8: 1.

The Expectation.

When the Ecclesia is a complete body there will be a 'snatching up', as the scripture puts it. ". The Lord Himself will be descending from Heaven.. and the dead in Christ shall be rising first. Thereupon WE, the living, who are surviving shall at the same time be SNATCHED AWAY together with them in clouds, for meeting the Lord IN THE AIR.." 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

The dead are not SLEEPING in the graves ! When a believer dies the soul (themselves) and their spirit goes to be with the Lord. ". But we are confident,. And willing rather to be absent out of the body, and to be PRESENT with the Lord.". 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 A.V.
When the Lord appears in the sky, "Those who ARE PUT to repose, will God, through Jesus LEAD FORTH WITH Him.." 1 Thessalonians 4; 14.

God will bring them "out of the memory" and all this will happen "in the twinkle of an eye" 1 Corinthians 15: 52.
" For OUR citizenship BELONGS to the heavens, out of which we are WAITING a Saviour also, the Lord, Jesus Christ who will TRANSFIGURE the body of our humiliation, to conform it to His glorious body." Philippians 3; 20, 21.

TYPE 1

In the Lord's transformation on the Mount, we see a type of the rapture of the Ecclesia. The appearance of Moses who died and was buried, and Elijah who was translated, both met the Lord on a high mountain signifying 'in the air.'

TYPE 2

In Jesus' conversation with Martha, we see a second type. "I am the Resurrection and the Life, he who is believing INTO Me, EVEN if he should be dead will be living, AND EVERYONE who is living, should by no means BE DYING."John 11 25,26.

Now Paul explaining a mystery says, "Be perceiving a mystery, to YOU I am saying, we all, indeed, shall not be put to sleep, (death) yet we ALL SHALL be changed, in an instant and the dead , will be roused incorruptible and we, surviving, shall be changed..now whenever this corruptible should be PUTTING ON incorruption, and the mortal be PUTTING ON immortality, THEN shall come to pass which HAS BEEN written:

Yet to God be the thanks, who is GIVING US the victory, THROUGH our Lord Jesus Christ.." 1 Corinthians 15; 51-57.